Aquatic vehicle with articulated steering

Abstract

The steering of a human powered pontoon aquatic vehicle is improved by arranging the pontoons in three articulated sections. The forward and aft pontoon sections are rotated in reciprocal directions with the forward sections being rotated in the direction of the desired turn. The vehicle includes a support frame attached to the forward and aft pontoon sections upon which a seat is mounted. A central frame member attached to the central pontoon is shifted laterally with respect to the support frame in order to rotated the forward and aft pontoon sections. The forward and aft pontoon sections are connected to the central pontoon section by interlocking hinges which permits convenient disassembly of the vehicle for transportation.

I claim: 
     
       1. An aquatic vehicle comprising: a support frame;   a pair of spaced apart articulated pontoons wherein each of said pontoons includes a center section along with a forward and an aft sections each of which are rotatably connected to said center section and rotatably connected to said support frame;   steering means, operatively connected to said pontoons, for rotating said forward and aft sections with respect to said center sections by moving said center sections; and   propulsion means for propelling the vehicle in a forward direction.   
     
     
       2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said steering means includes a central frame member secured to each of said center sections, a plurality of support arms connected to said support frame wherein one of said support arms is pivotably connected to each of said forward and aft pontoon sections and translation means for laterally translating said central frame member with respect to said support frame. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said translation means includes a steering rod and a crank member rotatably connected to said support frame and having one end connected to said central frame member and the other end connected to a first end of said steering rod. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said translation means further includes a steering lever pivotably connected to said support frame and connected to a second end of said steering rod. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of claim 2 additionally including a seat secured to said support frame. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said propulsion means, which includes a pair of pedals operatively connected to a propeller, is secured to said support frame forward of said seat. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said propulsion means includes a vertically orientated housing with said propeller mounted in the lower portion of said housing, transmission means located within said housing for transmitting rotational motion of said pedals to said propeller and tilt means for permitting lower portion of said housing to rotate upwardly in the aft direction in response to striking an object while the vehicle is traveling in the forward direction. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein two of said support arms are connected to either of said forward or aft pontoon sections by a pivot mechanism that permits limited fore and aft travel of said support arms along its associated pontoon section. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said pivot mechanism includes a bearing plate slidable secured to its associated pontoon section, a retainer plate having an elongated slot and a king pin attached to said bearing plate, interposed through said slot and engaged with said support arm. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein each of said center pontoon sections is connected to its associated forward and aft section by a detachable hinge. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said detachable hinge incudes a pin and socket arrangement wherein each of said center pontoon sections can be slidably engaged with its associated forward and aft sections and which permits at least a limited horizontal rotation of said forward and aft pontoon sections with respect to said center pontoon sections. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said detachable hinge includes a lower circular flange configured in the bottom surface of each end of said center pontoon section, a lower circular recess configured in the associated end of said forward and aft pontoon sections for receiving said lower flanges and an upper circular flange configured in the upper surface of the associated ends of said forward and aft pontoon sections and an upper circular recess configured in each end of said center pontoon sections for receiving said upper circular flanges. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said detachable hinge includes a lower circular flange configured in the bottom surface of each end of said center pontoon section, a hinge pin secured coaxially to said lower flanges, an upper circular flange configured in the top surface of one end of said forward and aft pontoon sections and a socket for receiving said hinge pins secured coaxially to said upper cicular flanges. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said pin and socket arrangement includes a hinge pin secured to one of said pontoon sections and a socket for slidable receiving said pin in its associated pontoon section. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of claim 10 said detachable hinge is effectively maintained in engagement by the buoyancy of said center pontoon section. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said detachable hinge includes a flange configured in the upper surface of said forward and aft pontoon sections abutting a recessed portion of each end of said center pontoon section.